Razor with adjustable blade and blade guard



y 23, 1968 G. M. BAUMANN 3,393,450

RAZOR WITH ADJUSTABLE BLADE AND BLADE GUARD Filed June 14, 1967 4Sheets-Sheet 1 zfepJmwa/fiw July 23, 1968 G. M. BAUMANN RAZOR WITHADJUSTABLE BLADE AND BLADE GUARD Filed June 14, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii x Y July 23, 1968 G. M. BAUMANN 3,393,450

RAZOR WITH ADJUSTABLE BLADE AND BLADE GUARD Filed June 14, 1967 4Sheets-Sheet :5

All

I 1 29 fiwenfor" fiazuraznn/ July 23, 1968 G. M. BAUMANN RAZOR WITHADJUSTABLE BLADE AND BLADE GUARD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 19675612 #6. 6611102112172; 55/ Xvi-Paul a United States Patent 3,393,450RAZOR WITH ADJUSTABLE BLADE AND BLADE GUARD Gilbert M. Baumann, 22 W.627 North Ave., Glen Ellyn, Ill. 60137 Continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 396,879, Sept. 16, 1964. This application June 14,1967, Ser. No. 645,926

6 Claims. (Cl. 3072) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety razor of a typehaving a flexible blade supporting member and a cooperative flexibleblade retaining member, and provision for applying variable tension tothe razor and causing an arcuate flexing of the blade but continuing togrip the blade over substantially its full surface despite the degree ofarcuate flexing.

This invention relates to a razor with adjustable blade and blade guardand is a continuation-in-part of my copending application on a razorwith adjustable blade and blade guard filed Sept. 16, 1964 having Ser.No. 396,879 now abondoned.

The invention relates generally to safety razors and more particularlyto a safety razor having means for effecting a blade adjustment and amethod of constructing a safety razor.

The invention is directed to an adjustable razor structure which isextremely simple in construction having a minimum of parts, and at thesame time provides a highly eflicient adjustment of the blade withrespect to the effective blade clearance and cutting position, theadjustment varying not only the spacing between the blade edge andcooperable guard member but also the angle between the blade edge andthe guard member as well as the actual shape of the guard member.

An important object of this invention is to provide a method of making arazor generally known as the safety type from a thin resilient stainlesssteel sheet bent along generally parallel lines to form a centralflexible blade supporting portion and an integral handle from theoriginal ends of the sheet.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a methodof constructing a safety razor having a flexible blade supportingstructure and a flexible blade clamping member.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a razorwhich is extremely efficient in operation, providing an extremely smoothand painless shave in which the adjustment may be readily made byadjustment of the manually actuable member for securing the blade in therazor.

Another object of the invention is the production of a razor having suchfeatures which is so designed that it is substantially non-clogging,readily washable and which may be fabricated from suitable stainless andother materials to provide a very durable and long-lived razorstructure.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a razorwhich has a novel and distinctive shape en- 3,393,450 Patented July 23,1968 abling it to be readily and comfortably held in the hand, and whenso held is self-aligning or orienting whereby no care is required to seethat the mirror is picked up in the proper position or requiring therotation of the razor after it has been picked up, and which thus alsoeliminates any possibility of the razor turning or slipping in the hand.The razor thus offers advantages in this respect not only as to personaluse but in connection with shaves which may "be administered by nursesor other personnel.

A further object of the invention is the production of a razor havingthe above advantages which, due to its simplicity in construction, maybe economically manufactured.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a razor embodying the presentinvention with portions thereof broken away to disclose details;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a razor illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the razor illustrated in FIGURE 1 with aportion of the blade retaining member broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 44 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a similar sectional view taken approximately on the line 55of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the headstructure of the razor, similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 6illustrating the approximate position of the parts when the razor isadjusted for maximum spacing between the blade edge and guard, andillustrating in dotted lines the approximate positions of the parts whenthe razor is constructed for minimum blade clearance; and

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view similar to FIG- URE 1 with portionsof the handle structure broken away to show the details of a modifiedconstruction;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of a rectangular sheet of thin resilientstainless steel;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the sheet of FIG- URE 9 after the firstoperation performed thereon in the making of a razor and showing therectangular sheet blanked to the proper shape and punched with aplurality of holes and elongated slots;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the blanked sheet of FIGURE 10 after itsfirst bend-forming operation;

FIGURE 12 is a side view of the formed sheet of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of the formed blank of FIGURES 11 and 12having the next succeeding bendforming step;

FIGURE 14 is a side view of the formed sheet of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of the formed blank of 3 FIGURES 13 and 14having the next succeeding bend forming step;

FIGURE 16 is a side view of the formed sheet of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a top plan view of the formed blank of FIGURES 15 and 16having the next succeeding bendforming step preliminary to final razorassembly as shown in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 18 is a side view of the formed sheet of FIG- URE 17.

The present invention contemplates the production of a razor having ahandle structure from which extends at one end a blade-supportingstructure including a bladesupporting member and a blade-retainingmember between which the blade is adapted to be operatively clamped withthe blade-supporting member being fabricated from a sheet of very thinmetal, preferably stainless steel or the like, which is bent alonggenerally parallel lines to form a blade-supporting portion of generallyarcuate transverse cross-section from which extend oppositely disposed,converging portions which are connected at their free ends to the handlestructure. The juncture of the side portions with the blade-supportingportion is curved and provided with elongated generally parallel slotswhich extend transversely to the juncture of such portions with theslots extending into both the bladesupporting portion and the sideportion forming a comblike guard adjacent the blade edge. The blade isadapted to be retained in operative position on the blade-supportingmember by means of a cooperable blade-retaining member between whichmembers the blade is operatively clamped, such clamping force-s beingprovided by suitable means disposed in the handle structure andcooperable with means carried by the retaining member, whereby thelatter may be drawn toward the handle structure. The constructionpreferably is such that following sufiicient movement of the retainingmember to operatively hold the blade in desired position, furtheradjustment of the blade may be elfected by additional movement of theblade-retaining member toward the handle member thereby flexing theblade-supporting member and the side portions and with it the comb guardto thereby vary the clearance between the blade edge and the guardelements as well as the angles between the blade edges and the adjacentportions of the guard member, thereby providing optimum relationshipsbetween the blade and guard for all adjustments of the razor.

I have found that superior results are obtained in adjustable razorsWhere, in addition to the clearance between the blade and guard member,the relative angles between such members are likewise varied, wherebythe blade edge and adjacent portion of the guard member extend inrelatively diverging relations for maximum blade clearance and approacha more parallel or even converging relation at minimum blade clearance.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 6, thereference numeral 1 indicates generally a handle member which includesas a filler or sandwiched member, for example, a molded member fromplastic or other suitable material and which is of generally rectangularframe-like configuration having a top portion 2, a bottom portion 3, andspaced side portions 4.

Carried by the handle member 1 is a blade-supporting member indicatedgenerally by the numeral 5, constructed of relatively thin resilientsheet metal, for example, stainless steel or the like, and bent toprovide a generally arcuate blade-receiving member 6. I have found thata thickness on the order of .005" to .025" is suitable to provide thedesired results. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated,constructed from the same sheet of material are respective side plates7, which, as illustrated in FIGURE 6 are disposed in substantiallyparallel planes and secured to the handle member 1 by suitable means as,for example, rivets 8 or the like, whereby such side plates form closuremeans for the open sides of the handle member 1. The side plates 7 areintegrally connected with the blade-receiving portion 6 by connectingportions 9, the juncture of the latter with the portion 6 being roundedas clearly illustrated in FIG- URE 6 and provided with a plurality ofelongated slots 11 formed therein, which slots extend into the portion 6as well a the portions 9 to form comb-like guards for the edges of ablade disposed on the portion 6, with the connecting portions 9extending from the portion 6 in substantially converging planes.

The retaining member, indicated generally by the numeral 12, for a razorblade B disposed on the bladereceiving portion 6, in the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated, comprises a plurality of sheets of thin,semiresilient metal, utilizing three such sheets 13, 14 and 15. Asclearly illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 6 such sheets decrease intransverse width from the inner to the outer, and are secured inoperative position by two stem members 16 which are provided adjacenttheir outer ends with portions 17 of reduced thickness which extendthrough aligned apertures in the respective strips 13, 14 and 15, andprovided at their respective free ends with suitable rivet heads 18.

The stems 16 extend through bores 16' formed in the top portion 2 of thehandle member into the interior of the latter and are provided withoppositely directed transversely extending slots 19 formed therein.Rotatably supported in the top and bottom portions 2 and 3 of the handlemember 1 is a screw 21 which is disposed between the stem members 16 onan axis extending parallel to the axis of the latter. In the embodimentillustrated, the screw 21 is provided at its upper end with acylindrical bearing portion 22 disposed in a cooperable bore in theupper portion 2 with the screw extending through the lower portion 3 andrigidly attached to a generally cylindrical knob or handle 23. Axialmovement of the screw 21 relative to the handle member is prevented by anut 24 threaded on the screw 21 and firmly seated on a sleeve 26 fixedat its opposite end to the knob 23, the sleeve 26 functioning as aspacer and having a length which is slightly greater than thecorresponding thickness of the bottom portion 3 of the handle member.

Threaded on the screw 21 is an actuating or latch member 25 which, inthe embodiment illustrated, is of generally diamond-shaped configurationhaving its oppositely disposed ends arranged for reception in the slots19 of the stems. Disposed between the nut 24 and the latch member 25 inco-axial relation with the screw 21 is a coiled compression spring 27,and also encircling the screw 21 is a tubular sleeve member 28 which isadapted to engage the lat-ch member 25 at the extreme lower end of itstravel, thereby providing a limit to such movement of the latch member,while the spring 27 provides a frictional connection between the screw21 and the latch member 25, whereby the latter will normally tend torotate with the screw.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the side plates 7 arebent along their vertical edges to Wrap around the side edges of thehandle member 1 as indicated at 29 leaving a space therebetween throughwhich portions of the handle member extend, such portions, in theembodiment of the invention illustrated, being provided withsemi-circular ribs 31 or the like forming nonslip, hand engageableelements.

In operation, the blade-retaining member 12 may be readily removed fromthe handle member 1 and bladesupporting structure 5 by rotating the knob23 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the bottom end of thehandle structure, or in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4. Thefriction between the screw 21 and the latch member 25, resulting fromthe action of the spring 27, will cause the latch member 25 to rotatewith the screw 21 during initial rotation of the latter until the latchmember reaches the approximate position illustrated in dotted lines inFIGURE 4 with further rota tional movement of the latch member beingrestricted by the side plates 7, and thus move the latch member out ofengagement with the stems 16, following which the blade-retaining member12 and stems 16 may be withdrawn and separated from the remainder of therazor structure.

Following the disconnection of the blade-retaining member 5, the razorblade may be assembled on the retaining member with the stems 16extending through apertures in the blade, following which the retainingmember may be reassembled with the remainder of the razor, extending thestems 16 through the openings in the blade-receiving portion 6 andthrough the top portion 2 of the handle member 1, whereby the notcheswill be disposed in position to receive the adjacent ends of the latchmember 25. Upon initial rotation of the knob 23 in a clockwise directionas viewed from the bottom of the handle structure, or a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURE 4, initial rotation of the screw 21 willresult in the latch member 25 also being rotated in a counterclockwisedirection to dispose the end portions thereof in the respective notches19 of the stems 16. Continued rotation of the screw 21 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4 will draw the latchmember 25 downwardly on the screw and through engagement of the latchmember with the adjacent portions of the stems 16, draw the bladeretaining member 12 downwardly therewith. When the blade-retainingmember 12 has been drawn down a sufficient distance to firmly clamp theblade in operating position, the parts will assume a positionsubstantially as illustrated in solid lines in FIGURE 7. In thisposition, maximum clearance is provided between the edge of the bladeand the adjacent comb-like guard member disposed adjacent the junctureof the blade-receiving portion 6 and the connecting portions 9.

By additional rotation of the knob 23 in a clockwise direction, theblade-retaining member 12 may be drawn down to the position illustratedin dotted lines in FIG- URE 7 which indicates the limit of such travel,resulting from the engagement of the latch member 25 with the tubularsleeve member 28, thereby preventing further movement of the latchmember along the screw 21. It will be noted that in this position theblade edge has a minimum clearance and at the same time the angularrelationship of the edge portion of the blade with respect to the guardportion has been varied from an open or diverging relationship to aclosed and parallel or even converging relationship, this being producedby a flexing of the blade-supporting structure 5 and connecting portions9. At the same time the members 13, 14 and of the blade-retainingportion 12, due to the increased pressure thereon resulting from thedescribed movement, will flex slightly thereby changing the angle of theblade edge with respect to a plane passing through the axis of the stems16, the convexity of the blade being reduced slightly and thus tendingto bring the edge portions of the blade in a more nearly fiat position.

It will be apparent from a reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, that theblade-receiving portion 6 is provided with a pair of longitudinallyextending blade engaging surfaces 32 adjacent the edges of the blade andadjacent the olfsets 33 of the blade-supporting member so that the bladeinitially sets upon such spaced portions 32, whereby the edge portionsof the blade will always firmly bear thereon. Obviously by a lesserrotation of the knob 23, any adjustment between the two positionsillustrated in FIG- URE 7 may be obtained.

It will be appreciated that the construction of the razor head is suchthat maximum flow of lather through the slots 11 is provided,eliminating any possibility of clogging of the razor structure and atthe same time permitting the same to be readily disposed under a waterfaucet and flushed through to remove all lather within the razor head.

It will also be noted that the construction is very simple, having onlytwo separable parts, namely, the blade-retaining member 12 andassociated stems 16 on the one part and the remainder of the razorstructure on the other.

Likewise due to the construction of the actuating mechanism, it isimpossible to separate the actuating elements or otherwise render thedevice inoperative. If by chance the razor is tampered with as, forexample, the knob 23 is turned to its extreme clockwise position whenthe retaining member 12 is removed therefrom thereby preventing properengagement of the latch member 25, it is necessary only to rotate theknob 23 to its opposite limit, thereby raising the latch member 25 andinsuring proper engagement thereof with the notches 19 the respectivestem members.

If desired, the means for limiting the downward movement of the latchmember 25 may be integrally formed as a part of the handle member 1,thereby permitting the elimination of the sleeve 28. Such a constructionis illustrated in FIGURE 8, wherein the handle member 1 is provided withintergrally formed shoulders 34 against which the latch member 25 mayabut at its extreme limit of downward movement, illustrated in FIGURE 8.Likewise, while I have illustrated the use of a compression spring 27for operativel-y connecting the latch member 25 with the screw 21, anyother suitable friction-forming means may be employed as, for example, aspring fastener such as the so-called Tinnerman fasteners which wouldbear upon the latch member 25, being suitably formed whereby it cannotrotate relative to the latch member and is placed under compression atthe time the parts are assembled so that it will exert an axial force onthe latch member relative to the screw 21 and thereby provide thedesired frictional engagement between the respective members.

It will be noted from the above description that I provided a razorconstruction of novel shape and operation utilizing merely two separablestructure which are adapted to be secured in operative relation by meansof a rotatable knob or the like, such knob preferably also forming themeans for effecting adjustment of the relation of the edges of the razorblade with respect to the associated guard members. However, it will beappreciated that the novel adjusting structure discolsed could beutilized with a separate normally adjusting element.

It will further be noted that I have provided a novel razor structure inwhich the blade-supporting elements and the guard member is formed fromextremely thin, flexible sheet metal, whereby the entireblade-supporting structure may flex to effect an adjustment in the operative angle of the blade edges.

In order to clearly set forth the method of fabricating the basicone-piece flexible blade supporting structure and handle, a series offigures, 9 through 18, have been included in the drawings to show thesuccessive blanking, piercing, cutting and bending operations. The bladesupporting member 5, the handle shell or side plates 7, and theconnecting portions 9 are formed from a single strip of thin flexibleresilient stainless steel 40 as shown in FIGURE 9. It is this oneelement and the steps in its final formation that makes the razor ofthis invention so desirable.

FIGURE 10 shows the strip of FIGURE 9 after cornpleting the first stepin its fabrication. I shall hereafter describe the various operationsperformed on the onepiece strip. However, it should be understood thatall of the operations at each step of the fabrication are preferablyperformed simultaneously although that it is not essential to a practiceof this invention. A plurality of spaced apart holes 41 are preferablypunched in the oppositely disposed handle portions 7. The arrangement ofthe holes is the same for both ends 7 so that when the ends areultimately brought together as in FIGURES 2 and 6 the holes are alignedto receive connecting rivets 8. The device as shown in FIGURE 10 mightbe said to have been blanked. In addition to the punching or drilling ofthe holes 41 the rectangular strip has notches 42 cut inwardly at theside thereof adjacent the outer side edges of the connecting portions 9.Spaced apart aligned holes 43 are punched or otherwise cut in the centerportion 6 of the blade supporting portion 5. These holes 43 are arrangedand constructed to receive passage of the spaced apart stern members 16.Arcuate or circularly shaped opposed notches 44 are cut in the outerside edges of the central portion 6 of the blade supporting portion 5.

The next step taken in the method of forming the razor of this inventionis to bend the strip on a plurality of parallel bend lines as shown inFIGURES 11 and 12. These bends are symmetrically made about alongitudinal center of the strip 40. The strip is bent upwardly aboutthe transverse bend line 45, thence angularly upwardly and inwardlyabout the transverse bend line 46 and thence in a straight longitudinaldirection about the transverse bend line 47. These bends constituteone-half of the central bends of the razor of this invention. Thereafterthe strip is bent angularly downwardly and outwardly about thetransverse bend line 48, then bent generally vertically downwardly aboutbend line 49, and thence bent in a straight longitudinal direction aboutthe transverse bend line 50. Again it is stated that the bends asdescribed in this step or station may all be made simultaneously orseparately as desired.

The next step taken in the method of forming the razor of this inventionis to further bend the previously blanked and bent strip as shown inFIGURES l3 and 14. The strip is bent about the transverse bend line 51to define one handle end portion 7 and preferably simultaneously bentabout a parallel transverse bend line 52 to define the other handle endportion 7. Also at this step or station there is accomplished thebending of the handle flanges 29. The handle side plates 7 are bentdownwardly about longitudinal bend lines 53, 54, 55 and 56 along themarginal edges thereof to form downwardly extending flanges 29.

The next step taken in the fabrication of the main body of the razor isshown in FIGURES 15 and 16. Here the device of FIGURES l3 and 14 hasbeen roll formed at 57 and 58 along transversely extending parallel sideedges of the blade supporting portion 5.

The final step in the fabrication of the razor shell is shown in FIGURES17 and 18. At this point the handle portions 7 are swung about the rollbends 57 and 58 until they are disposed at an angle of approximately 60or each approximately 30 from a center or median line of thesymmetrically formed razor base. With this bending or further rolling ofthe roll bends 57 and 58 the converging connecting portions 9 of therazor are clearly defined and positioned between the razor supportingportion and the handle side portions 7. In this position the angles ofthe connecting portions 9 with the center line of the formed razormember are both approximately 30". At this point the elongated slots 11have their longitudinal extent rolled alon the roll bends 57 and 58 sothat a portion thereof extends into the flexible blade supportingportion 5 and so that the balance thereof extends down into the flexibleconnecting portions 9 on both sides of the blade support. The rolledelongated slots act as a comb for the razor blade used in this device.

The blade supporting portion 5 of this one-piece razor member is vitalto the success of the subject safety razor. In addition to the centralstrip 6 which contains the stem receiving holes 43 and is defined by theparallel bend lines 47 and 48 the blade support comprises otherimportant elements. Immediately outwardly of and flanking the centralstrip 6 on both sides thereof are narrow strips 32. These narrow strips32 are inclined slightly downwardly and away from the central strip 6and are defined by the parallel bend lines 46 and 47 and 48 and 49respectively. Immediately outwardly of each of the narrow inclinedstrips 32 are substantially vertically disposed strips 33. Thesevertical strips 33 are defined by the bend lines and 46 and 49 and 50respectively. Immediately outwardly of the vertical strips are generallyflat strips located between the bend lines 45 and 50 and the rolledbends 57 and 58 on their respective sides. The resilient flexible bladesupport 5 cooperates as previously described to support the blade B andgive it resilient support substantially throughout its extent. The bladeB bears against the spaced apart blade bearing surfaces 32 to cause adepression or spreading of the flexible blade support and including theintegral converging connecting portions 9. Also, the cutting blade edgesare located relative to the oflsets or substantially vertical strips 33in a manner to variably expose more or less of the blade and also toeffect an angular change of the cutting edges of the blade relative tothe flexible support of the subject device.

As shown in FIGURE 18 the final bending and forming of the one-piecemember leaves the handle members 7 substantially far apart. This is doneto give the assembly an automatic pre-tensioning when the handle membersare brought together and riveted by rivets 8 to the handle filler. Thepre-tensioning fills out the flexible blade supporting member 5 and itsadjoining connecting members 9 so that it gives ideal backing for use ofa conventional safety razor blade in the act of shaving.

Not only does the present invention encompass an article, but it alsoencompasses a method of making a one-piece fabricated base shell for asafety razor. The method employs the successive steps of blanking a thinflexible sheet with a particular shape, bending the blanked shape abouttransversely parallel bend lines, making transversely parallel rollbends, and finally shaping the member to provide for automaticpre-tensioning upon assembly into a safety razor.

The razor of this invention forms a hollow enclosure within the bladesupporting portion 5 and the converging connecting portions 9 to makethe device truly a nonclogging razor. The hollow enclosure has theplural side comb-like openings 11 to admit shaving lather and the cuthair. The outer ends of the hollow opening are both open to permit readyflushing by a stream of water.

Having thus described my invention, it will be obvious to those skilledin the art from the disclosures herein given that various immaterialmodifications may be made in the same without departing from the spiritof my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myselfto the exact form, combination or arrangement of parts herein shown anddescribed.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety razor comprising a handle structure, a blade-supportingmember operatively supported by the handle structure, of a size toreceive and support a razor blade in operative position, a guard memberconnected to said supporting member disposed in operative positionadjacent a cutting edge of such a razor blade, said supporting and guardmembers being formed from a single thin resilient sheet of material,said single sheet of material being extended from the outer edge of saidguard member to the handle structure and forming the connections of saidsupporting member to said handle structure, a flexible blade-retainingmember cooperable with said resilient blade-supporting member to retainsuch blade thereon, and means for flexing said guard member, saidflexible blade retaining member and such a blade to vary the operativeclearance between said guard member and such a cutting edge, andsimultaneously flex said guard member relative to such blade to vary theeffective angle between the latter and said guard member.

2. A safety razor comprising a handle structure, a blade-supportingmember operatively supported by the handle structure, of a size toreceive and support a razor blade in operative position, a guard memberconnected to said supporting member disposed in operative positionadjacent a cutting edge of such a razor blade, said sup porting andguard members being formed from a single thin resilient sheet ofmaterial, said single sheet of material being extended from the outeredge of said guard member to the handle structure and forming theconnections of said supporting member to said handle structure, ablade-retaining member cooperable with said bladesupporting member toretain such blade thereon, and means for flexing said guard member, andsuch a blade to vary the operative clearance between said guard memberand such a cutting edge, and simultaneously flex said guard memberrelative to such blade to vary the effective angle between the latterand said guard member, said blade-retaining member formed from aplurality of superimposed semi-resilient metal sheets, operative to flexslightly during adjustment of the structure and thereby vary the flexingof a blade disposed between said bladesupporting and retaining members.

3. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle member, a blade-supportingmember for-med from a very thin sheet of resilient metal, said sheetbeing formed to provide a blade-supporting portion and oppositelydisposed connecting portions connected thereto, said intermediateportion having a generally convex blade-supporting face, with saidconnecting portions being integrally connected to said blade-supportingface along the longitudinally extending edges thereof, the juncturethereof being formed by respective portions of arcuate cross-sectionalshape, having slots therein extending transverse to such juncture andextending at opposite ends into the adjacent bladesupporting andconnecting portions to form flexible comblike blade guards, saidconnecting portions being secured to said handle member, a bladeretaining member of arcuate transverse cross-section formed from aplurality of relatively thin, superposed semi-resilient metal sheets, apair of spaced, parallel attaching stems extending transverse to saidblade-retaining member from the convex side thereof in symmetricalrelation with respect to the arcuate cross-sectional configurationthereof, and forming means for securing the sheets of said retainingmember in assembled relation, said handle member having bores formedtherein to detachably receive said stems which may extend therethroughinto the interior of said handle member, a rotatable scre'w supported insaid handle member in axially fixed relation relative thereto with theaxis thereof disposed between and in parallel relation to the axes ofsaid stems, an elongated latch member extending transversely to andthreaded upon said screw, with the free ends of said latch memberextending laterally beyond the paths of said stem members, the lattereach having a transversely extending slot in the periphery thereof of asize and disposed to receive a corresponding free end of said latchmember, rotation of said screw being operative, through engagement ofsaid latch member with said stems, to draw said bladeretaining membertoward said blade-supporting member and clamp a razor bladetherebetween, spring means providing a frictional connection betweensuch latch member and screw whereby the latch member will normally tendto rotate with the screw for rotating said latch member into or out ofoperative engagement with said stems, the slots in said stems being sodisposed that rotation of said screw in a direction to move said latchmember away from the top portion of said handle member will tend torotate the latch member in a direction to effect engagement thereof withsaid slots, and rotation in the opposite direction will tend to movesaid latch member in a disengaging direction relative to said slots,said screw extending through the bottom portion of said handle member,and a manually engageable member rigidly carried by the proiecting endof said screw.

4. A safety razor comprising a hollow handle member, a blade-supportingmember formed from a sheet of resilient metal, said sheet being formedto provide an intermediate blade-supporting portion and oppositelydisposed connecting portions connected thereto, said intermediateportion having a generally convex blade-supporting face, with saidconnecting portion being integrally connected to said blade-supportingface along the longitudinally extending edges thereof, the juncturethereof being formed by respective portions of arcuate cross-sectionalshape, having slots therein extending transverse to such juncture andextending at opposite ends into the adjacent blade-supporting andconnecting portions to form flexible comb-like blade guards, saidconnecting portions being secured to said handle member, ablade-retaining member, parallel attaching stems extending transversefrom said blade-retaining member, said handle member having bores formedtherein to detachably receive said stems which may extend therethroughinto the interior of said handle member, a rotatable screw supported insaid handle member in axially fixed relation relative thereto with theaxis thereof disposed between and in parallel relation to the axes ofsaid stems, a latch member extending transversely to and threaded uponsaid screw, with the free ends of said latch member extending laterallybeyond the paths of said stem members, the latter each having atransversely extending slot in the periphery thereof of a size anddisposed to receive a corresponding free end of said latch member,rotation of said screw being operative, through engagement of said latchmember with said stems, to draw said bladeretaining member toward saidblade-supporting member and clamp a razor blade therebetween, meansproviding a frictional connection between such latch member and screwwhereby the latch member will normally tend to rotate with the screw forrotating said latch member into or out of operative engagement with saidstems, the slots in said stems being so disposed that rotation of saidscrew in a direction to move said latch member away from the top portionof said handle member will tend to rotate the latch member in adirection to effect engagement thereof with said slots, and rotation inthe opposite direction will tend to move said latch member in adisengaging direction relative to said slots, said screw extending fromsaid handle member, and a manually engageable member rigidly carried bythe projecting end of said screw.

5. A blade-supporting structure for a safety razor comprising a flexibleblade-supporting member and a flexible blade-retaining member foroperatively clamping a blade therebetween, said flexibleblade-supporting member fabricated from a thin resilient stainless steelgenerally rectangular sheet, said generally rectangular sheetsymmetrically bent about a longitudinal center along a plurality ofgenerally transverse parallel lines to form a bladereceiving centralgenerally flat strip, outwardly and downwardly inclined symmetricaladjoining strips, and generally vertically downwardly extendingsymmetrical strips adjoining the outer ends of each of said outwardlyand downwardly inclined symmetrical strips, and further outwardlyextending generally symmetrical flat strips, said sheet further bent atthe outer ends of said fiat strips to form oppositely disposedconverging symmetrical side portions, the juncture of each of said sideportions with the flat strips being symmetrically curved, saidsymmetrically curved junctures provided with elongated generallyparallel slots which extend into the flat strips of the blade supportingportion and the side portions, said slotted curved junctures forming acomb-like guard for disposition adjacent the cutting edges of a blade,said sheet further bent at the outer ends of said converging symmetricalside portions to form diverging sysmmetrical handle portions, saiddiverging symmetrical handle portions brought together in asubstantially parallel relationship to pre-tension and fill out theflexible blade-supporting member of said central strip and thesymmetrical side strips including the convering side portions, and saidconverging side portions with'the central portion forming a hollowenclosure.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which the flexi- 1 1 1 2 bleblade-retaining member comprises a laminate of 21 1,022,623 4/1912 Dunn3051 plurality of thin sheets of resilient metal. 1,416,199 5/1922Hasselquist 3084 X 1,432,949 10/1922 Behrman 3084 X References Cited1,591,146 7/1926 Stewart 30-71 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,046,006 1936Taylor 30-68 843,148 2/1907 Jackson 2,046,709 7/1936 Taylor 30-852,298,944 10/1942 Hyatt 30-85 X 890,350 6/1908 Fowler 30-85 X 2,471,6205/1949 Harrls 3047 938,396 10/1909 Nahm et al. 30-71 1 2,551,256 5/1951Foltls 3047 952,837 3/1910 Nahemow 30-77 X 2 699 602 1/1955 Finley 30 47977,919 12/1910 Yeaton 30 74.1 10 "f" 985,494 2/1911 Atkins 3071 MYRONC. KRUSE, Primary Examiner.

